Raffle of AR-15 rifle by police association causing a stir (poll)

A New Hampshire police chief's association
is hoping to raise funds with a plan to raffle off a gun a day in May,
including a Ruger AR-15-style rifle with a 30-round magazine, according to a
story from CBS News.

The plan has drawn outrage from
various pro-gun-control groups, including Stop Handgun Violence whose
founder, John Rosenthal, called the raffle "criminally
irresponsible."

According to the story, Salem, N.H.,
Police Chief Paul Donovan said the goal of the raffle was to raise $30,000 to
offset the cost of a police cadet training academy. That money to fund the academy has
been raised already, the story said, with the sale of 1,000 raffle tickets, at
$30 apiece.

The plan for the raffle was made
before the Newtown shootings, Donovan said on the association's website. He offered condolences to the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School victims, but wrote the shootings
were "contrary to lawful and responsible gun ownership."